Facts about distracted driving

On behalf of Jon Berman of Berman & Russo, Attorneys at Law posted in car accidents on Monday, April 3, 2017.

Connecticut residents may or may not be surprised to learn that the worst-behaved drivers on U.S. roadways are young millennials. Data released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety indicates that nearly 90 percent of millennial drivers engage in at least one dangerous activity while behind the wheel.

On today's roadways, distracted driving fatalities now equal the number of deaths caused by drunk driving. Therefore, it is not surprising that for every three drivers, one has developed the dangerous habit of driving distracted. Every year, more than 5,000 individuals die and roughly 500,000 people are injured due to distracted drivers. In contrast, approximately 290,000 people are hurt each year by drunk drivers.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's executive director says that while drivers who are 19 to 24 years old think that risky driving behavior is normal, they need to understand that it can have deadly consequences. In fact, according to statistics released by the It Can Wait campaign conducted by AT&T, seven out of every 10 people are using smartphones while driving. Furthermore, over 60 percent of drivers have their smartphones within arm's reach while driving, and about four in 10 people participate in social media activities while behind the wheel.

Regarding the use of social platforms while driving, more than 25 percent of the respondents to AT&T's poll admitted to going on Facebook, nearly one in seven confessed to checking Twitter and another third said they post to Twitter on a frequent basis as they drive. More than a fifth of those polled said addiction was the reason they used social networks when driving, and almost a third stated they could engage in this activity safely while behind the wheel.

Auto accident victims who are injured because of the actions of distracted drivers may wish to retain attorneys that could help them pursue compensation. By analyzing the police report, a lawyer may be able to find information supporting the victim's allegations.

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